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According to VanDelay, Akron will lose the MAC Championship, then have to fight with Northern Illinois and Central Michigan for the Birmingham Bowl.

Everything I have heard indicates the opposite. Akron's fan support in the Motor City Bowl basically clinches a bowl berth in 2006 if the Zips are 7-5 or 8-4, Mike Waddell told me when he was still in charge of external relations at Akron.

The 9,000 tickets Akron sold for the Motor City Bowl was the talk of many college football circles, many have told me. And since projected fan revenue is so important for bowl selection and the MAC now has four bowl tie-ins, it would seem Akron has a slightly easier road this year than before.

I don't mean to pick on VanDelay, because the rest of their predictions seem pretty feasible. The site places Luke Getsy and Kiki Gonzalez on its First-Team All-MAC. It also predicts a road victory for the Zips over Cincinnati (Sorry, Nature Boy).

Softball

Late is better than never ... I guess.

GoZips.com finally acknowledged that coach Julie Wright bolted to be an assistant at Wisconsin. That is 22 days after Wright resigned.

In the press release, Wright gave the usual garbage "I'm leaving but I love Akron" quote. Here are her exact words:

"It is with a mixture of sadness and excitement that I leave Akron for Wisconsin. Akron is an exceptional institution with incredible backing for its student-athletes. From the facilities to the academic support, this Athletics department is truly doing things the right way. There is no doubt in my mind that Zips softball will continue its successful climb in the Mid-American Conference. I want to thank (Athletics Director) Mack Rhodes and (Senior Associate Athletics Director) Mary Lu Gribshaw for this wonderful opportunity and wish all of the coaches and student-athletes continued success and nothing but the very best."

Hopefully Wright enjoys her downward movement in college softball. In the meantime, Rhoades will look for her replacement.

This is what Rhoades had to say about Wright leaving:

"We thank Julie for the outstanding progress the softball program made under her leadership and wish her the best in her new endeavor."

I love Mack, but come on. Endeavor? She's not starting a small business or venturing into a new sport. She is taking a step back in her career, which seemed to be progressing nicely.